Ruqyah As Remedy for Sihr/Jinn Afflictions

The Quran is a source of great healing. As Allah (swt) says in the Quran, “We send down from the Quran which is a healing and mercy for those who believe”. (Surah Isra, verse 82)

We are encouraged to use the verses in Quran to cure ourselves of illnesses and sickness. This form of treatment is known as ruqyah. It utilizes the recitation of Quranic verses or making supplications (duas) as mentioned by Rasullullah (saw) in order to heal oneself or somebody else from various forms of afflictions like evil eye, acute panic attacks, severe anxiety, deep depression, etc.

Afflictions like evil eye, acute panic attacks, severe anxiety, deep depression and repeated failures can indicate that it’s the result of Sihr/Jinn. When the person goes to the doctors, they cannot find anything wrong with the person because these ailments are from a different dimension, and not from the physical realm. Ruqyah and Hijama can help resolve these afflictions.

There is ample evidence from hadiths that prove the significance of ruqyah in Islam.

Aisha (ra) narrated, “The Prophet (saw) ordered me or somebody else to do Ruqya in case there was a danger from an evil eye.” Sahih Bukhari

In another hadith, Aisha (ra) narrated, “During the Prophet’s (saw) serious illness, he used to recite the Mu’auwidhat (Surat An-Nas and Surat Al-Falaq) and then blow his breath over his body. When his pain became intense, I used to recite those two surahs and blow my breath over him and make him rub his body with his own hand for its blessings.”

A Raqi is the spiritual healer who is entitled to perform ruqyah on a sick person. Ruqyah should be done only with Allah’s words, his beautiful names or attributes. All forms of ruqyah that are mentioned in the Sunnah satisfy this condition as they either consist of certain portions of the Holy Qur’an (such as Surah-Fatiha or Ayat ul-Kursiy) or else they contain praises of Allah (swt) and an invocation to seek help from Allah (swt).

The Raqi should not recite words or prayers that include shirk such as asking help from the dead, Jinnaat or evil spirit. The Raqi should only use Quranic verses or authentic supplications in the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).

Ruqyah is a spiritual prayer that can be used to heal diseases and evil eye. It is entirely based on the Holy Quran and Hadith. Therefore, the right way of ruqyah healing is the one that is based on the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (saw). Any kind of deviation from the Sunnah is unlawful.

On one occasion, Jibril came to the Prophet (saw) and asked, “O Muhammad, are you sick?” He replied, ‘Yes.’ Jibril said, “Bismillahi arqik, min kulli shayin yuthik, min sharri kulli nafsin aw ayni hasid’ (translation: With Allah’s Name I shelter you (give you ruqyah), from all that ails you, from the evil of every soul, or that of the envious eyes. May Allah cure you, with Allah’s Name I shelter you.” Muslim, reported by Abu Said al-Khudri (ra).

The Prophet (saw) used to seek Allah’s (swt) refuge from the Jinn and the evil eye until the Mua’widhatain (surah Falaq and Nas) were revealed. After their revelation he recited only them and not anything else.”

The evil eye is the name for a sickness or misfortune transmitted, usually with or without intention, by someone who is envious, jealous from among man or jinn. The Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “The evil eye is real and if anything were to overtake the divine decree, it would be the evil eye.”

The evil eye can afflict mankind and it is the most widespread affliction in the world. Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “Most of those who will die from my nation after what Allah has decreed will be from the evil eye” (Fath al-haqq al Mubeen, As-Sahih, 747)

To ward off the effect of the evil eye, one should say, upon seeing someone or something that pleases him, “masha-Allah” (only that which Allah wills comes to pass!), and then he should pray to Allah to bless that person or thing.

The person performing ruqyah and the one being treated by it must both believe that this ruqyah only work by Allah’s permission. The means can either be successful or unsuccessful based on whatever Allah allows to happen.

Prophet Ibrahim said, “And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me.’” (Surah Ash-Shu’araa: 80). So therefore, if you need to be treated by ruqyah, you must place your hope in only Allah.

Another attribute that those who need to be treated by ruqyah should have is they should learn the various wordings of ruqyah by themselves. They should treat themselves by reciting Surah Al-Fatihah or Surah Ikhlaas or the Muaawidhatain (Surahs Falaq and Naas) on themselves. Or they should recite Ayat-ul-Kursee on themselves before sleeping as well as the words of remembrance that are recited throughout the day and after the obligatory prayers.

These words will protect them since these supplications will help them prevent and remove all calamities from themselves. These ruqyah assist by preventing evil from befalling. So they are like armor that you wear to protect yourself from any danger that comes your way. They are a means that assist but Allah is the One Who ultimately brings about good or harm.”

Sihr means to make something appear in a form other than the real one. According to Aisha, Arabs have given it the name sihr because it can transform good health into illness. Sihr is an agreement between a Sahir and a satan which stipulates that the sahir commit certain illegal or polytheistic acts, in return for the Satans assistance and obedience in fulfilling the sahir’s requests.

A halal way to cure the evil efffects of sihr is with Ruqyah. Ruqyah entails reciting the Qur’an and making supplications to Allah (swt) in order to aid in the treatment of illness and other problems.

Sihr is an agreement between a Sahir (sorcerer) and a shaitan (evil jinn) which stipulates that the sahir commit certain illegal or polytheistic acts, in return for the shaitan’s assistance and obedience in fulfilling the sahir’s requests. Arabs have given it the name sihr because it can transform good health into illness.

The heart is normally full and does not allow anything strange or repulsive to enter it. In contrast, weak faith in monotheism, weak reliance on Allah and a lack of beneficial knowledge render the heart a breeding ground for devilish insinuations, illusions and trivialities.

Regarding this dangerous condition, Ibnul-Qayyim wrote, “Evil spirits mostly gain control of those having little religious inclination and those whose hearts and tongues faith has deserted (people) whose souls are desolate of the remembrance of Allah and of the formulas for strengthening one’s faith.”

One should protect oneself from the effect of magic before it happens. Among other things, this can be achieved by demonstrating sincere devotion and worship to Allah alone, and seeking His protection by frequently remembering Him and by reciting Prophetic supplications at suitable times. As for treating magic after its occurrence, the affected person should be patient with Allah’s decree, repent for his sins and insist on receiving treatment only from those Muslims who are known for their piety and uprightness.